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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 14, 2020 AFCA CONTACT: Vince Thompson, Director of Media Relations CELL: (254) 640-0452 , , NATE MILNE AND STEVE RYAN NAMED AFCA’S 2019 FCS, DIVISION II, DIVISION III AND NAIA NATIONAL COACHES OF THE YEAR

NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Coaches Association (AFCA) capped the 2020 AFCA Convention by presenting its top coaching award — AFCA National Coach of the Year — to four outstanding coaches in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III and the NAIA. North Dakota State’s Matt Entz (FCS), Minnesota State’s Todd Hoffner (Division II), Muhlenberg’s Nate Milne (Division III) and Morningside’s Steve Ryan (NAIA) are the 2019 AFCA National Coach of the Year winners. The winners are selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at four-year schools in FCS, Division II, Division III and the NAIA. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The AFCA Coach of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the only one chosen exclusively by coaches. Matt Entz earned his first FCS National Coach of the Year honor in his first year as a by leading North Dakota State to 16-0 record, the Missouri Valley Football Conference title and the FCS National Championship. The national title was the third straight for the Bison and the eighth title in nine seasons. The 16-0 season was the first in the modern era of . The last team to go 16-0 was the University of Chicago in 1899, but they also had two ties that season. Todd Hoffner also earned his first AFCA National Coach of the Year honor by leading Minnesota State to a 14-1 record, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) title and an appearance in the Division II national title game. In his 10 seasons with the Mavericks, Hoffner has a 106-22 record with seven NCAA playoff appearances and six NSIC titles. In 2014, he guided Minnesota State to a 14-1 record and the program’s first-ever appearance in the Division II national championship game. When you include his seven years as head coach at Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Hoffner has an overall record of 148-50. Nate Milne is the third first-time winner for 2019. The second-year head coach led Muhlenberg to its best season in program history, going 13-1, winning the Centennial Conference and advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs. This was Muhlenberg’s first out-right conference title since 2008 and its first-ever trip to the semifinals. Milne is 24-3 in his two seasons as head coach and has been named Centennial Conference Coach of the Year to go along with his AFCA Division III Region 2 Coach of the Year honor in 2019. Steve Ryan earned his third AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year honor after guiding Morningside to a 14-0 record, its ninth consecutive Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) title and their second straight NAIA National Championship. Ryan has an overall record of 184-40 in his 18 years as head coach and has guided Morningside to 16 consecutive post-season appearances, including seven trips to the semifinals in the last eight seasons. Ryan won his first AFCA National Coach of the Year honor in 2012 after leading the Mustangs to a 13-1 record and the program’s first-ever national championship game appearance. He added his second honor in 2018 after guiding Morningside to a 15-0 record and the program’s first NAIA National Championship. He is also a nine-time AFCA Regional Coach of the Year winner. The winners were honored Tuesday afternoon during the American Football Coaches Awards at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Award History Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf, then of North­western, was named as the first AFCA Coach of the Year in 1935. One national winner was selected from 1935 through 1959. From 1960 through 1982, two national winners were selected — one representing the University Division and one from the College Division. From 1983-2005, four national winners were chosen. In 2006, the AFCA started honoring an NAIA Coach of the Year, bringing the total to the five honorees we have today. Prior to 2006, the NAIA was a part of the AFCA’s Division II membership category.

Voting Process The current balloting procedure involves selection of 25 regional winners: five regional winners in each of the five divisions – FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA, who become finalist for national coach of the year. Following regional voting, five national winners – one from each division – are chosen.

First Year Coach of the Year: North Dakota State’s Matt Entz joins Miami’s (Fla.) , Richmond’s and Valdosta State’s as the only coaches to earn AFCA National Coach of the Year honors in their first season as a head coach. Coker was the FBS winner in 2001, Dean was the Division II winner in 2007 while London was the FCS winner in 2008.

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Most Schools: and Brian Kelly are the only coaches to win AFCA National Coach of the Year honors at two different schools in two different divisions. Tressel earned AFCA honors at Division I-A Ohio State in 2002 and Division I-AA Youngstown State in 1991 and 1994. Kelly earned AFCA honors in Division II at Grand Valley State in 2002 and 2003 and in FBS at Notre Dame in 2012.

Top Individuals: of Mount Union is the only coach in AFCA history to win National Coach of the Year honors nine times. He earned the award in Mount Union’s national championship seasons of 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2008. Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Lance Leipold is in second place when he earned his sixth AFCA Division III Coach of the Year honor in 2014. Leipold won his other awards in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. Penn State’s sits third with five AFCA Coach of the Year honors. Paterno earned his awards in FBS in 1968, 1972, 1982, 1986 and 2005. Northwest Missouri State’s (1998-99-2008-09) and of Augustana (Ill.) College are the only four-time AFCA Coach of the Year winners. Reade earned the honor in 1983-84-85-86 in College Division II (now Division III). Morningside’s Steve Ryan (2012, 2018, 2019), Northwest Missouri State’s (2013, 2015-16), Grand Valley State and Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly (2002-03, 2012), Carroll’s (2003, 2007, 2010), Sioux Falls’ Kalen DeBoer (2006, 2008-09), Appalachian State’s Jerry Moore (2005-06-07), Youngstown State and Ohio State’s Jim Tressel (1991, 1994, 2003), Alabama’s (1961, 1971, 1973) and North Alabama’s Bobby Wallace (1993-94-95) are the only three-time Coach of the Year winners. Kehres, Leipold, Moore, Reade and Wallace are the only coaches to win the award in three or more consecutive seasons.

Top Schools: Mount Union is the only institution to have a representative win the AFCA National Coach of the Year Award nine times. North Dakota State, Northwest Missouri State and Wisconsin-Whitewater are the only schools with seven wins. Georgia Southern and Penn State are the only schools with five wins. Alabama, Augustana (Ill.), Grand Valley State, , Ohio State and Wittenberg are four-time winners. Larry Kehres has won all nine awards for Mount Union, while Joe Paterno has won all five awards for Penn State. Lance Leipold’s six honors and Bob Berezowitz’s 2005 National Coach of the Year award account for Wisconsin-Whitewater’s seven honors. Mel Tjeerdsma’s four wins and Adam Dorrel’s three wins account for Northwest Missouri State’s seven honors. North Dakota State’s national winners are (1983), (1986), (1988, 1990), (2012, 2013) and Matt Entz (2019). Paul Johnson (1999, 2000), (1986, 1989) and (1990) are Georgia Southern’s honorees. (1997), (1947), (1948) and (1969) are Michigan’s winners. Bill Edwards (1962, 1963) and his successor, Dave Maurer (1973, 1975), are responsible for Wittenberg being listed in the select group. earned Coach of the Year honors in 1992 to join three-time winner Bear Bryant as Alabama’s winners. Augustana’s Reade accounts for all of his school’s awards. Ohio State’s Jim Tressel joins (1944), (1957) and (1979) as one of the four Buckeye coaches to win the award. Chuck Martin (2005-06) joins Brian Kelly (2002-03) as the winners from Grand Valley State. Morningside (Steve Ryan, 2012, 2018, 2019), Appalachian State (Jerry Moore, 2005-06-07), (, 1971-72; K.C. Keeler, 2010), Furman (, 1985; , 1988; , 2001), North Alabama (Bobby Wallace, 1993-94-95), Notre Dame (, 1941; , 1964; Brian Kelly, 2012), Sioux Falls (Kalen DeBoer 2006, 2008-09), USC (John McKay, 1962, 1972; , 2003) and Valdosta State (Chris Hatcher, 2004; David Dean, 2007, 2012) are all in the exclusive group of schools having three winners each.

Two-Timers: Jim Butterfield, Ithaca (1988, 1991); , St. Thomas (Minn.) (2012, 2015); David Dean; Kevin Donley, St. Francis (Ind.) (2016-17); Bill Edwards; Joe Glenn, Northern Colorado (1996-97); Rocky Hager; Mark Henninger, Marian (2014-15), Paul Johnson; Chuck Martin; Dave Maurer; John McKay; , TCU (2009, 2014); Harold “Tubby” Raymond; , Texas (1963, 1970); Erk Russell and , Villanova (1997, 2009) are repeat winners.

Back-to-Back: Steve Ryan, Kalen DeBoer, Kevin Donley, Adam Dorrel, Bill Edwards, Joe Glenn, Mark Henninger, Paul Johnson, Larry Kehres, Brian Kelly, Lance Leipold, Chuck Martin, Jerry Moore, Tubby Raymond, Bob Reade, Mel Tjeerdsma, Bobby Wallace and Craig Bohl are the only coaches to win national honors in consecutive years. No FBS coach has won the award in consecutive years. Kehres is the only coach to win three consecutive Coach of the Year awards twice, while Tjeerdsma is the only coach to win two con- secutive Coach of the Year awards twice. Leipold won three straight from 2009-11, then went back-to-back in 2013-14, making him the only coach to accomplish that feat.

Fit to be Tied: In 2003, Brian Kelly and Mike Van Diest became the fourth duo in the history of the AFCA National Coach of the Year award to finish in a tie for the honor and the first non-FBS coaches to share the award. Larry Coker of Miami (Fla.) and of Maryland finished in a tie for the honor in 2001. In 1964, of Arkansas and Ara Parseghian of Notre Dame shared the award, and in 1970, Charlie McClendon of LSU and Darrell Royal of Texas were co-winners.

-(MORE)- 2019 AFCA National Coach of the Year Award Page 3 of 3 AFCA Coach of the Year Winners — All-Time List Football Championship Subdivision 2004 Chris Hatcher, Valdosta St. 2012 Steve Ryan, Morningside 1983 , Southern 2005 Chuck Martin, Grand Valley St. 2013 Mike Woodley, Grand View 1984 Dave Arnold, Montana St. 2006 Chuck Martin, Grand Valley St. 2014 Mark Henninger, Marian 1985 Dick Sheridan, Furman 2007 David Dean, Valdosta St. 2015 Mark Henninger, Marian 1986 Erk Russell, Georgia Southern 2008 Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St. 2016 Kevin Donley, St. Francis (Ind.) 1987 , Holy Cross 2009 Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St. 2017 Kevin Donley, St. Francis (Ind.) 1988 Jimmy Satterfield, Furman 2010 , Minnesota-Duluth 2018 Steve Ryan, Morningside 1989 Erk Russell, Georgia Southern 2011 Paul Winters, Wayne St. (Mich.) 1990 Tim Stowers, Georgia Southern 2012 David Dean, Valdosta St. College Division 1991 Jim Tressel, Youngstown St. 2013 Adam Dorrel, Northwest Mo. St. 1960 Warren Woodson, New Mexico St. 1992 , 2014 , Colorado St.-Pueblo 1961 Alonzo S. Gaither, Florida A&M 1993 Dan Allen, Boston University 2015 Adam Dorrel, Northwest Mo. St. 1962 William M. Edwards, Wittenberg 1994 Jim Tressel, Youngstown St. 2016 Adam Dorrel, Northwest Mo. St. 1963 William M. Edwards, Wittenberg 1995 , Montana 2017 , West Florida 1964 , East Carolina 1996 , Columbia 2018 , Lenoir-Rhyne 1965 , UC-Santa Barbara 1997 Andy Talley, Villanova 1966 , Trinity College 1998 , Massachusetts Division III 1967 A.C. Moore, UT-Chattanooga 1999 Paul Johnson, Georgia Southern 1983 Bob Reade, Augustana (Ill.) 1968 Jim Root, New Hampshire 2000 Paul Johnson, Georgia Southern 1984 Bob Reade, Augustana (Ill.) 1969 , Boston University 2001 Bobby Johnson, Furman 1985 Bob Reade, Augustana (Ill.) 1970 , Arkansas St. 2002 , Western Kentucky 1986 Bob Reade, Augustana (Ill.) 1971 Tubby Raymond, Delaware 2003 , Colgate 1987 Walt Hameline, Wagner 1972 Tubby Raymond, Delaware 2004 , James Madison 1988 Jim Butterfield, Ithaca 1973 Dave Maurer, Wittenberg 2005 Jerry Moore, Appalachian St. 1989 Mike Kelly, Dayton 1974 , Central Michigan 2006 Jerry Moore, Appalachian St. 1990 Ken O’Keefe, Allegheny 1975 Dave Maurer, Wittenberg 2007 Jerry Moore, Appalachian St. 1991 Jim Butterfield, Ithaca 1976 , Akron 2008 Mike London, Richmond 1992 John Luckhardt, Wash. & Jeff. 1977 , Widener 2009 Andy Talley, Villanova 1993 Larry Kehres, Mount Union 1978 , Baldwin-Wallace 2010 K.C. Keeler, Delaware 1994 Pete Schmidt, Albion 1979 , Youngstown St. 2011 , Sam Houston St. 1995 Roger Harring, Wis.-La Crosse 1980 Rick Carter, Dayton 2012 Craig Bohl, North Dakota St. 1996 Larry Kehres, Mount Union 1981 , Shippensburg St. 2013 Craig Bohl, North Dakota St. 1997 Larry Kehres, Mount Union 1982 , Southwest Texas St. 2014 Sean McDonnell, New Hampshire 1998 Larry Kehres, Mount Union 2015 John Grass, Jacksonville St. 1999 , Pacific Lutheran 2016 Mike Houston, James Madison 2000 Larry Kehres, Mount Union 2017 , Kennesaw St. 2001 Larry Kehres, Mount Union 2018 Joe Harasymiak, Maine 2002 Larry Kehres, Mount Union 2003 , St. John’s (Minn.) Division II 2004 Jay Locey, Linfield 1983 Don Morton, North Dakota St. 2005 Bob Berezowitz, Wis.-Whitewater 1984 , Troy St. 2006 Larry Kehres, Mount Union 1985 , Bloomsburg 2007 Lance Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater 1986 Earle Solomonson, 2008 Larry Kehres, Mount Union North Dakota St. 2009 Lance Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater 1987 , Troy St. 2010 Lance Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater 1988 Rocky Hager, North Dakota St. 2011 Lance Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater 1989 John Williams, Mississippi College 2012 Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas 1990 Rocky Hager, North Dakota St. 2013 Lance Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater 1991 , Pittsburg St. 2014 Lance Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater 1992 Bill Burgess, Jacksonville St. 2015 Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas 1993 Bobby Wallace, North Alabama 2016 , 1994 Bobby Wallace, North Alabama Mary Hardin-Baylor 1995 Bobby Wallace, North Alabama 2017 Jason Mangone, Brockport 1996 Joe Glenn, Northern Colorado 2018 Jim Margraff, Johns Hopkins 1997 Joe Glenn, Northern Colorado 1998 Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St. NAIA 1999 Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St. 2006 Kalen DeBoer, Sioux Falls 2000 Danny Hale, Bloomsburg 2007 Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.) 2001 , North Dakota 2008 Kalen DeBoer, Sioux Falls 2002 Brian Kelly, Grand Valley St. 2009 Kalen DeBoer, Sioux Falls 2003 Brian Kelly, Grand Valley St. 2010 Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.) Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.) (tie) 2011 Mike Feminis, Saint Xavier -(AFCA)-